When your vehicle has a problem, it’s common to see the check engine light illuminated on the dashboard as a warning.
Once your check engine light comes on, you need to deal with the issue to avoid getting stuck on the road. But can AutoZone diagnose this for you? Here’s all you need to know!
Can AutoZone Check Engine Light In [currentyear]?
If your check engine light is on, AutoZone will scan your vehicle to identify the real cause. When this happens, drive to an AutoZone store, and one of the employees will help you diagnose the issue via the Fix Finder service. AutoZone uses the Fix Finder tool to troubleshoot why the light is on and determine repair solutions in [currentyear].
To learn more about AutoZone’s Fix Finder service and how AutoZone employees diagnose your vehicle when the check engine light is on, keep reading for more information!
Does AutoZone Perform a Free Engine Light Check?
AutoZone employees check the engine light for customers at no fee. When your light is on, they read the codes and tell you what needs fixing.
You can also go to any AutoZone store for this service by checking the nearest outlet on the company website.
How Does AutoZone Diagnose a Check Engine Light?
AutoZone uses the Fix Finder service, which troubleshoots why your engine light is on.
Fix Finder uses its detailed database of repair solutions from ASE-certified mechanics during the diagnosis to find the issue.
This tool will read all the diagnostic trouble codes and pull your vehicle information and mileage; Afterward, the data is used to provide specific solutions for your car.
After the analysis, AutoZone will give you a free MyZone health report that includes the relevant codes and actions to be taken to fix the check engine light issue.
An AutoZone employee will provide you with a printed and digital copy of the report for easier access.
This report provides detailed information about the recommended solutions and suggestions for repairing parts.
In addition, staff at AutoZone will help you find the right part from your store and direct you to a technician to get your car fixed.
While AutoZone will sell you the parts, the employees will not help you replace them, since they don’t specialize in repairs.
Therefore, according to some car owners, you can also buy your own onboard diagnostics (OBD) code reader to make it easier for you.
How Long Does It Take AutoZone to Check the Warning Light?
Once you go to an AutoZone store, the warning light test takes less than a minute after the reader gets plugged in.
Fix Finder will read the information from the check engine, maintenance, and ABS lights within this short time and let you know what to do.
Do All AutoZone Stores Check Engine Light?
According to the AutoZone website, more than 5,700 stores in the U.S. offer the Fix Finder service for free during business hours.
If you’re looking for an AutoZone near you, you can use the store locator on the website.
Can You Check the Engine Light by Yourself?
When your check engine light is on, you can get the reading by yourself if you borrow an OBD reader from AutoZone.
This task takes less than two minutes. Once you get the reading, write down information about your car, such as mileage, year of manufacture, vehicle model, and make.
Take the tool back to AutoZone with your vehicle’s information, and the staff will get you the report and explain the recommended solutions.
Once a flashing light appears on your dashboard, you should pull over immediately to avoid further damaging your car and engine.
What Causes the Check Engine Light to Come On?
When your car has a problem, the check engine light will either glow or flash. Therefore, you need to know the actual causes.
Listed below are some common causes for this problem:
Your Gas Cap is Missing or Damaged
A gas cap is a critical part of your vehicle, because it seals the fuel system while helping maintain the pressure within the fuel tank.
If this cap is damaged or loose, your vehicle will release hydrocarbons into the atmosphere, and you’ll lose fuel to evaporation.
When this happens, the check engine light comes on; therefore, you should address the problem immediately.
Failed Oxygen Sensors
Your vehicle’s oxygen sensor determines how much unburned oxygen is in your vehicle’s exhaust system.
When the oxygen sensor fails, the vehicle could show multiple engine codes. Therefore, you need to be careful before replacing the sensors.
Damaged Spark Plugs
Spark plugs ignite the fuel and air mixture in your vehicle’s combustion chamber. If you don’t replace the plugs, you’ll experience poor fuel economy and poor vehicle performance.
Additionally, your engine will misfire and cause your car to stall. Once this happens, the check engine light comes on to warn you of a problem.
Faulty Mass Airflow Sensors
Vehicles have mass airflow sensors that measure the air entering the engine to determine the amount of fuel needed to run the engine efficiently.
When these sensors are damaged, you’ll experience reduced fuel economy. Therefore, it’s advisable to replace them.
Malfunctioning Catalytic Converter
A catalytic converter is essential in a car, because it helps protect the environment by converting harmful carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide.
Therefore, if the converter is not working properly, the trouble codes will appear as a warning.
Therefore, it’s advisable to replace these convertors as soon as possible; otherwise, your car will not pass emission tests and will experience reduced performance.
To know more, you can also see our posts on whether or not AutoZone installs batteries, if AutoZone makes keys, and if AutoZone can test a starter.
Conclusion
When your check engine light is on, AutoZone will scan your vehicle to identify the real cause for free.
If you are in the U.S., you can drive to the nearest AutoZone store, and one of the employees will help you diagnose the issue via the Fix Finder service.
AutoZone uses the Fix Finder tool to troubleshoot why the light is on and to determine the repair solutions.
At AutoZone, the diagnosis process takes a minute or two; afterward, the staff will provide you with a detailed report showing the issues and probable solutions.
